Results of Stage 11 of the Dakar Rally Saudi Arabia 2026, with Al-Attiyah in the lead
The Saudi Arabian desert witnessed a new chapter of excitement and challenge today with the start of the eleventh stage of the Dakar Rally Saudi Arabia 2026 , the world's premier event in desert motorsports. This grueling stage stretched from Bisha province to Al-Hanakiya, covering a total distance of 882 kilometers, including a 346-kilometer timed special stage that put the drivers' skills and the endurance of their vehicles to the ultimate test before reaching the finish line.
Ekström steals the stage, and Al-Attiyah holds onto the top spot
In the car category, Swede Mattias Ekström, driving for Ford Racing, proved his superiority in this stage, setting the fastest time of 2 hours, 47 minutes, and 22 seconds, outperforming his fierce rivals Romain Dumas and Carlos Sainz. Despite this intense competition for the stage title, attention remained focused on the overall standings, where veteran Qatari driver Nasser Al-Attiyah , driving for Dacia Sunriders, continued his astute rally performance, maintaining his lead with a total time of 44 hours, 39 minutes, and 59 seconds. This performance further cements Al-Attiyah's status as a legend of desert rallying, leveraging his extensive experience in navigating the challenging Saudi Arabian terrain to maintain a comfortable lead over his closest pursuers, Spaniard Nani Roma and Frenchman Sébastien Loeb.
Saudi brilliance and fierce competition in other categories
The excitement wasn't limited to the Grand Prix category; it extended to all classes. In the Challenger category, Saudi driver Dania Aqeel , representing the Odyssey Academy, made a strong impression, finishing third just one minute behind the leader, Argentinian Nicolas Cavigliaso. This achievement reflects the remarkable progress in the level of Saudi and local participation in the rally and underscores the importance of the Kingdom hosting this global event in developing national talent and positioning them to compete with world champions.
In the motorcycle category, American Skyler Howes snatched first place, while the Defender Rally team continued its absolute dominance in the Stock car category, driven by Lithuanian Rokas Paciuska. In the truck category, Czech driver Ales Loprais proved his strength by winning the stage, further intensifying the anticipation for the final round.
The journey to Yanbu: The final stop
The Dakar Rally in Saudi Arabia is gaining increasing importance year after year, not only as a sporting event but also as a tourist attraction showcasing the Kingdom's diverse geography, from sand dunes to rocky terrain. With the eleventh stage concluded, all eyes will turn tomorrow to the twelfth and final stage, which will start from Al-Hanakiya and finish in Yanbu on the Red Sea coast, covering a total distance of 720 kilometers (311 km of special stage). This stage will see the crowning of the champions and the conclusion of another exceptional edition of the Dakar Rally 2026.
